Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Oct 20: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that 220- KV Leh-Alesteng-Sgr transmission line is in the offing and the same will ease power woes to a large extent while as the UT administration has submitted a proposal for an “exclusive and alternate” 400 KV transmission line for J&K.
Addressing the press conference at Raj Bhawan here, the Lt Governor said that UT administration has held a series of meetings with the Union Power Ministry over the past few years to address the power woes in J&K. “Situation is not what it was three years ago,” he said, adding that work is going on to lay 220-KV Leh-Alesteng-Srinagar transmission line and once the line will come up, power woes will get addressed to a large extent in Kashmir.”
He said that the UT administration has advocated and demanded a “separate, alternate and exclusive” 400 KV transmission line for J&K for the resolution of power deficit issues in the UT.
The LG said on October 18, the Union Cabinet approved the Inter-Transmission System and J&K too will benefit largely from it. Pertinently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the project on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II-Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for 13 GW renewable (RE) energy project in Ladakh.
The Lt Governor said that the UT administration is committed to provide un-interrupted and reliable power supply to the people. He said the power transfer from Ladakh to Kashmir will improve the power situation in Jammu region as well because the power transfer to Kashmir from the existing central sector Grids namely 400kV Kishanpur and Jatwal grids situated in Jammu, will be proportionally reduced. “This reduction will free up tied capacity at these grids, thereby improving availability in Jammu through the year,” the LG said, adding that the transmission line for evacuating power will run through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to Kaithal in Haryana, integrating with the National Grid and interconnection to Ladakh’s existing grid and the 220kV Alusteng Grid in Ganderbal district of Kashmir through Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line, to provide power to Jammu and Kashmir.
“The 220kV Alusteng Grid in Ganderbal district of Kashmir has been further connected to the 220kV Zainakot Grid. Additionally, there is upcoming connectivity linking the 220kV Mirbazar Grid to the Alusteng Grid which is expected to be completed shortly,” the Lt Governor said, adding that “Keeping in view the proposed connectivity of RE generation in Ladakh with 220kV Grids of Kashmir, it can be said with certainty that the power transfer from Ladakh will positively impact the entire Kashmir valley, improving power availability round the year especially during power deficit winter months.” He said that 13 GW RE projects are equipped with 12 GW Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) which will ensure round the clock power supply to J&K, based on the capacity of the transmission system laid between Ladakh and Kashmir.
He said, “Kashmir is situated at the tail end of the Inter State Transmission System (ISTS), through which power from various thermal/nuclear generators located across different parts of the country is transmitted to the Kashmir region.” The LG said that the power supply from the said Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) supported renewable energy generator, located near Kashmir, will mitigate the low voltage conditions experienced during winters in the valley due to the decrease in hydro generation.
About smart metering, he said people have to cooperate with the move. “The areas where the feeder is 100 percent metered will get uninterrupted power supply with very minimal cuts,” he said. On winter preparedness, the Lt Governor said that all preparations have been completed. “Stock of essentials including ration, wheat, LPG cylinders, and medicines are being stocked ahead of winter,” he said.
The Lt Governor said that modern snow clearance machines have been procured and now roads won’t get damaged during the snow clearance.
